Protection of our environment from pollutants emanating from wastes generated by man made activities and disposal systems in less developed countries is now a matter of growing concern. Laboratory tests were conducted on compacted tropical clay treated with up to 16 % rice husk ash (RHA) an agro-industrial waste to access its suitability in waste containment barrier application. Soil–RHA mixtures was compacted using standard Proctor, West African Standard and modified Proctor efforts at −2, 0, 2 and 4 % of optimum moisture content. Index properties, volumetric shrinkage, hydraulic conductivity, and unconfined compressive strength tests were performed. Overall acceptable zones under which the material was suitable (low hydraulic conductivity <1 × 10⁻⁹ m/s, minimum volumetric shrinkage strain <4 % and high compressive strength > 200 kN/m²) were obtained. Results suggest the suitability of this material in waste containment barrier application for up to 8 % RHA treatment,which will ameliorate the environmental problems created by this agro-industrial waste.